Sengoku Horizon

Look towards the Horizon

The Warring States Period: Fierce warlords fought for control of Japan, and many would perish. When a warrior falls, where does the passion they once held go? Possibly into something dear such as a favorite weapon or heirloom. These heirlooms have been labeled as “relics”, and those that carry them are labeled as “Scions." Recently more and more of these special relics have been activating, signaling the start of a great change as ancient power meets the modern world!

Mikachi

After just a little while of using the school’s internet for communicating on the message boards, Mikachi had finally been able to gain a good result from a person willing to craft the sword. He emitted a light smile over his features in finally realizing that he hadn’t had to use the clan’s blade. It was an honor to have such a blade, but Mikachi didn’t wish to take the risk of breaking it. He was not really well-versed in the concept of fighting with a sword, or fighting at all currently. His skills revolved mostly on the mundane points of life where he was able to cook, clean, garden and patch up a bruise or two.

However, when it came to fighting, that had been something that he often learned about in his free time. Soon after the last reply from the stranger, Mikachi set his tachi blade in-sheath just onto his bed before collecting his essentials, as well as his satchel before moving on out of his dorm. As he made his way out of the student dorms, Mikachi continued off to the area just around the main building, heading to the library just to the right.

It was as if things were starting off quite well for Mikachi. Once he’s able to get his blade, he can finally start studying up on various techniques and tactics to use for his future training. But that was thinking for another time. Mikachi looked along the aisles of the library, quite surprised at the assortment of books that had been inside the library. It took a bit of work, however, he finally found a book that had explained about the histories of swords, their designs and their names. Such a large amount of information in a book was pretty useful.

Making his way to have a look around, Mikachi finally made his way to the back area that had been set with various tables and chairs. He noticed not too many had been around, but surely whoever this person that came to help could spot him out. The book he had was more of a tome and each page gave a picture of differing blades. Mikachi took a seat, setting his things down and flipped through each page with a careful eye, glancing from the tome and up just in case anyone had been wandering about.

Tonight was a relatively quiet one in the clan. He looked from his bed where he laid in thought, staring at the blank ceiling above him. One secret, one person, and a relic. Was this all it took to change a person’s life? Perhaps, but he’d find that out soon in the morning as he prepared for his leave to Edo Bugei. Luckily for him, his parents consulted with the clan authorities for a proper mapping of the area and routes towards the academy. Soon after he rose from his bed, he began packing his essentials and belongings into a decently sized satchel. The relic, the tessen fan laid there on the edge of the bed, closed.

He reached for it, pausing for a moment in thought.

Am I really going to do this..? Do I really wish to leave my clan and start anew in a place I’ve hardly heard of before..? Sure… there might be more opportunities but… mama and papa… will they be alright?

He emitted a light exhale, taking back his hand and resting it on his thigh. His eyes trailed to the ground, sitting just on his knees and calves.

That’s right… mama… papa… I’ll be leaving soon but… will you be alright?

The thought of wishing to be at the side of his parents as they grew older came rushing into his mind, overwhelming a sensation of worriment and self-resentment. Something warm… something began to drip from his eyes. The liquid that usually comes in times of emotional trauma… tears. He watched as a few droplets fled, dripping onto his kimono and leaving tiny specks of darkness within the fabric.

He chuckled quietly to himself as to not disturb his parents that were right next door. Wiping the tears from his eyes with his hands, Mikachi rose, taking hold of the tessen fan and making his way out through a pair of sliding doors. Making his way to the entrance of his home, he set on a pair of low-heeled geta sandals, making his way out of the home. Looking to the sky, his thoughts became lost and distant, unable to compose just one and focus. The arrival of the confusion annoyed him, causing him to shake his head, making way to the local pond which had trimmed grass, a large cherry blossom tree, as well as a plethora of other flora growing about.

The pond was large, lily pads floating along the surface of the water, hardly making a ripple. Petals from the blossoming tree dropped onto the grass from time to time, littering the area with a tiny amount of the petals. Mikachi seated himself onto the grass, crossing his legs and setting the fan just in between the middle of his legs. His palms rested on the sides of his thighs as he looked up to the night sky.

Is honor all that I live for…? Am I just a tool for the clan to promote their name…?

His eyebrows furrowed in place as his closed his eyes, imagining what it might be like in the academy. But to no avail, it was impossible to imagine such a thing. Mikachi didn’t enjoy to cloud his thoughts, it was just so frustrating that everything could change in just a fraction of a second. The dirt that provides a foundation for plants to live on, those plants that help the animals of the world grow and the animals learn and take only what they need from the world.

The world… heh. Constantly changing...just like me.

He set a palm to the cool and trimmed grass below. The stars were awfully bright, but perhaps that had been due to the tears welling in his eyes. The feeling of tightness around his neck formed, making his swallowing much harder.

Mama… papa… I love you both. Please… don’t forget about me… Don’t pity my leaving.. I… I’m doing it for the sake of our clan, our family name and… for you both. Rest easy… You two… the ones I… cherish and care for the most.

Standing once more, Mikachi took the tessen fan before having it slip out of his wet hands. The fan then revealed its design of a dark blue sky with a cherry blossom tree blowing in the wind with its petals flowing to the side.

An interesting design choice… Lady Tsukiyama.

His steps seemed much heavier and slower. He took a moment to recollect himself, dusting his backside and turning heel, heading back to the direction of his home. Upon entering, he removed his sandals, setting them aside and closing the door, entering. The home had been dark, as well as his parents’ room. Shuffling along, he tiptoed to their door, exchanging a peek inside, only to find the two resting peacefully.

A faint smile grew onto his features before he closed the door quietly. He then made his way back to the main room, taking a seat and looking to the family portrait. It had been of him as an infant within his mother’s arms and his father just beside the two with a smile that had hardly been noticed if not looked at closely. His eyes then trailed to the next few picture frames that had revealed images of Mikachi’s childhood and his parents’ past.

Regardless of the picture, Mikachi always had smiled in each. There had been one of him extending his very first plant within a small vase. Another of him playfully swimming in his father’s arms in a large river. Then the recent family portrait they had taken days before the event of finding the relic. It had been him, much taller, just about two inches taller than his father and towering over his shorter mother. They all smiled, Mikachi within the middle keeping his arms just in the middle, along with his parents keeping their arms clasped behind themselves with faint smiles.

Closing his eyes to the plethora of flashbacks, Mikachi bowed his head to the portraits, emitting thoughts from his mind.

I will do my best, mama, papa.

He then rose to his feet, keeping the fan in his palms, finally giving off a calmer and relaxed expression on his features.

And… please watch over me, Lady Tsukiyama.

Making his way back to his room, he closed the door behind him, quietly sliding the door closed, making his way to sleep.

Never would I have believed that I would be the one to write my thoughts on a piece of paper as often as I am doing today. The trip to Edo Bugei was a relatively long one, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any beautiful sights along the way. Once I arrived, it was in the early morning, and yet there were so many students about. There was an announcement about the events that happened just before I arrived, and only then was I able to realize that the school was being rebuilt due to a recent war and earthquake.

It’s sad to imagine just how many people had been caught up in the earthquake and the war, but I’m sure they’re learning to cope with it. It’s already been a few days here in the academy and I’ve already gotten my uniform, dorm room and my first bottle of green tea. It was pretty good until I approached a little child along the way. However, after I conversated a bit with her, I think she felt much better. After that, I went to get a bowl of Gyudon back at the cafeteria and headed home.I can’t wait to start classes here. Once I can, hopefully, they’re able to teach me a bit more about fighting. Let’s do this.